The spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, is a fruit fly native to Western Asia. It invaded the North America and Europe in 2008, and South America in 2013. Female SWD can make severe damage by piercing intact fruit during egg laying and has become a devastating pest of soft-skinned fruit crops. Due to the its expansion, specific and efficient infestation detection and population monitoring tools are urgently needed. Since SWD is known to be attracted to damaged and rotting fruits, headspace volatiles from fresh and fermented apple juices were collected and analyzed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Special attention was given to the compounds produced and/or enriched during the fermentation process. After performing a series of lab and field tests, we identified a five-component blend, which is more efficient and selective for D. suzukii attraction than the currently standard apple cider vinegar (ACV) and commercially available SWD lures. Our controlled-release dispenser formulated by synthetic blend will help growers accurately detect D. suzukii adult infestation and monitor its population density in orchards, allowing for timely pest management interventions while reducing conventional insecticidal usage to protect our crops and ecosystem.

Development of infestation detection and population monitoring tool for invasive species, spotted wing Drosophila

2019 Fall National Meeting

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